Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Manny Pacquiao’s amazing victory over Miguel Cotto, if you can throw more interceptions than Jay Cutler, or helping me find a new coffee company, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
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Gaming is more expensive than ever. Consoles cost more. Games cost more. The addition of downloadable content adds to a game’s total cost of ownership. With a languishing economy, it’s no wonder that software sales are down.
As someone that has been writing about games for more than a decade, it’s sometimes hard for me to maintain a “real person’s” perspective on gaming economics. While I no longer receive most game releases automatically, it’s usually not a problem for me to call a publisher to get a game that I want to play.
With all that in mind, I wanted to see what your game purchasing was like in 2009. Be sure to add your choice in today’s poll and give an estimate of how many titles you’ll end up buying this year. Did you buy less than usual due to economic conditions? Are you renting more than buying? Or is your gaming budget immune to an economic downturn?
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ive bought 7 in the last 2 weeks
still have to buy gow hd collection and i might have to buy assassins creed 2
i am also really wanting to buy buzz, but im waiting for the price to go down, but the damn thing wont drop
did anyones football team win yesterday?
sides smartguy?
and iceman i think?
@Thundercracker – Dolphins managed to pull one out against the Bucs…
@Topic – I have bought more games this year then in previous years. I was spending my $15 bucks a month on WoW for cclose to 4 years prior, so when I put that down in May (it finally started feeling more like a job I would go home for then a game) I started purchasing all kinds of stuff for the PS3, and it really reminded me why I love console gaming. MMOs are great, and lord knows Bioware had me at hello for The Old Republic, but there is something special about purchasing the game and not having to pay for it afterwards… being able to keep it and the information and play whenever you feel like bringing it out.
As to games left to purchase… tomorrow is AC2, and then I am on Christmas probation according to the Mrs. Hopefully my stocking this year will include GoW collection and The Saboteur (that game really looks neat)
@ Football
Hell yeah everyone's team lost yesterday! The Saints even barely beat the frickin' RAMS!!! U couldn't even watch the Pats/Colts game because I hate both of those squads so much. I'm convinced that Tom Brady is a Manchurian Quarterback. Watch, after the NFL, he'll move toward politics. Bet.
@ topic
I've thrown alot of money at games this year. I constantly crave something new and am mostly disappointed.
@ Larcenous
I'm already on Christmas probation. I want AC2 as well, but I think I mat do the same thing I did with AC1… wait 3 months for it to be $20 used.
@N8R
So many injuries and the play calling was way too conservative for the Saints yesterday. I think they are trying to get through the next 2 weeks before Pats come to NOLA.
@topic
I plan on buying L4D2 this year, but not until Black Friday. I would consider AC2 if it is cheap on Black Friday as well.
@Larcenous and everyone else
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?…
That feature would kill xbox live.
@ Smartguy
F the Pats, dude. Like I said… Manchurian Quarterback.
It's a pretty smart plan actually. You don't NEED to run the table this year (though that would rock). The things that killed us yesterday was 1) Troy got hurt again and 2) Eveyone and their mother has caught on to the Big Ben pump fake.
@N8R
What is up with Hines Ward? He was my fantasy stud at WR for a few weeks and as of late, he does nothing. I'm getting 2 points per game with him! (non ppr).
I don't mind the Pats. I think Bellichick was stupid for not punting it. That isn't a hindsight criticism either. He should have punted. Arrogant @sshole!
@ Smartguy
Hines always gets double covered (for good reason too). That usually opens up Santonio ( a mediocre receiver at best) and Heath Miller. However, the problem is that people aren't fooled by the pump fake anymore. At least the Bungles weren't.
Matt Ryan pissed me off yesterday. 2 critical interceptions.
@n8r
i made the mistake of starting mike wallace on my fantasy team, although i still won…matoaca high schools own james farrior had a pretty good game for me
and let me just say as a chris johnson owner
that man is THE best running back in the nfl
@ Thundercracker
Farrior is definitely the man. The Steelers also have a guy who graduated from my high school. Ryan Mundy went to Woodland Hills and grew up like 12 blocks from where I did.
I've bought roughly a dozen and rented probably more than two dozen. I'm picking up both Left 4 Dead 2 and Assassin's Creed 2 this week, and those will likely be the last games I buy myself this year. However, if I get money for X-Mas I'll probably end up buying a PS3 and an exclusive game or two.
I didn't even bother updating my Fantasy team yesterday as my season was already in the toilet and half my team had a fricking bye week or was out with injuries anyway. Thank god for my baseball league, because I always suck in football.
farrior went to a rival high school, i played against his brother in high school though
i went to high school with former bungles running back rudi johnson. The state of virginia has some surprisingly strong schools, particularly in the norfolk/va beach area
Random video:
The Bugatti Veyron is an automobile that costs 1.6 million dollars. Here's a video of some rich dumbass driving one into a lake:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bI3uJo_5BQ&fe…
WARNING: harsh language is used in reaction to the crash.
@ Thundercracker
A very good friend of mine went to ODU. I'll totally believe that Norfolk has some killer ball players.
@R-Pad
Do arcade games count?
I have already bought over 20 games this year. Because I started back to school I wasn't able to get all of the ones I wanted but I'll catch them one sale.
When does the God of War 1&2 set come out?
@Sandrock323 I was thinking retail games only. Downloadable games is another conversation, but feel free to include here too!
@SlickyFats This week! Lots of great stuff this week.
http://rpad.tv/2009/11/16/this-weeks-videogame-re…
I put a guesstimate on the 11-15 area. but it might be 6-10. I'd still like to get MW2 and Borderlands before this year is up and Assassin's Creed 2 is a definite buy for me as well.
I've been fortunate in the economic downturn to have an excellent job so it hasn't affected my spending much at all. if anything I'm spending more because there are killer deals out there
Did anyone read that link that I aimed at Larcenous? If you enjoy CoD you should definitely check it out. If you hate CoD or Activision you should check it out. Here it is again just in case:
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?…
@RROD
I read on some Atlanta message boards yesterday that fans are ready to throw the guy under the bus and call him Ryan Leaf.
@Nightshade
Don't buy L4D2 this week! Wait til after thanksgiving, it will be $35 at bestbuy and Target I think. More than one retailer anyway.
@ Smartguy
By "throw him under the bus", I assume you mean Jerome Bettis.
I read that article, but it doesn't phase me because i tend to steer away from the CoD franchise. I liked CoD 2 the best… but I'm an odd dude.
@N8R
Yeah, but if one company can get away with it then others will do the same. Eventually you are thrust into a crappy online monetization model by attrition. I understand and agree with a subscription for an MMO…content is always added and there is a somewhat real time customer service available.
@Ray
That would be a good Coffee Talk or good for an interview. Would individual game subs be viable on consoles? Would MS have to drop the live fee? How would Sony or Nintendo handle it seeing as how they don't charge for an online service?
@smartguy
cod is the only franchise that could get away with that, multi plat franchise anyways
im sure the halo and gears' kids would pay for add ons as well.
I might actually pay some money to get my mw2 character in a bills jersey
@Smartguy – being defeated by the link monster in our firewall at work. Care to sum it up? Otherwise will have to check it out at the ole homestead tonight.
after yesterday I'd like to throw Chris Simms under the bus but he is a backup after all. Probably the worst backup you could have though
I'd have to go home and count. I know I have about 6 Steam games this year plus 3 retail games this winter and what ever came out in spring. (I can only think of Halo Wars right now, but maybe more.) Then there's all the arcade games I bought during the summer and I honestly have no idea how many that is as I buy them on impulse simply to get through the summer. So 10 retail games plus maybe another 6 arcade games is where my number starts.
@Football – I think it's time to put some stick'em on Ted Ginn Jr. That guy can run, but whenever he thinks about catching the ball he gets all knotted up like there is a pretzel in his head and he can't do it. I know it don't look natural (Love the Replacements) but the Dolphins need to try something.
same can be said about braylon edwards
@Larcenous
Here is a copy and paste for you.
Call of Duty to get paid-for online services
Friday 13-Nov-2009 8:23 AM "You should expect us to launch additional online monetization models," says Activision
70 Comments
Activision says you should "expect" paid-for online models such as those in World of Warcraft to make the transition to other games, including Call of Duty.
Speaking during yesterday's BMO Capital Markets Conference (which sounds fun), Activision Blizzard CFO, Thomas Tippl said that while WoW's model is difficult to replicate, players should expect new monetization models for its other games soon.
"It's definitely an aspiration that we see potential in, particularly as we look at different business models to monetize the online gameplay," said Tippl. "There's good knowledge exchange happening between the Blizzard folks and our online guys."
"We have great experience also on Call of Duty with the success we had on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. A lot of that knowledge is getting actually built into the Battle.Net platform and the design of that," he added.
"I think it's been mutually beneficial, and you should expect us to test and ultimately launch additional online monetization models of some of some of our biggest franchises like Call of Duty."
According to the Activision CFO, there is a demand from its core fanbase to pay for additional services.
"Our gamers are telling us there's lots of services and innovation they would like to see that they're not getting yet. From what we see so far, additional content, as well as all the services Blizzard is offering, is that there is demand from the core gamers to pay up for that," he said.
@Larcenous
The Fins need to realize Ted Ginn was drafted too high and is a return man only. At Ohio State his biggest plays were returns. I'd just call it a bad talent evaluation.
@thundercracker
Would you pay a subscription for CoD? What if there was a better weapon than any you could unlock in the game for 5-10 dollars? I think that is a good way to ruin a franchise.
ray padilla and friends discuss games gadgets and geek culture
when do we start discussing geek culture?
@ smartguy – That and 5 sequels in 2 years.
I wouldn't pay for subscription CoD but then again I haven't paid for the real game yet.
@Thunder – Joke's on you. we're always discussing that
@smartguy
no..if the weapon was that much better, than i would see that as cheating. I wont play multiplayer with a bunch of dudes who i consider to be cheating
if they want more of my money, i better see some maps, added co op, something substantial
@Shockwave
What the hell is Activision thinking? NO FPS has the value of entertainment that an MMO delivers. That is a fact. Whether you are a fan other genre doesn't diminish that fact. There is more to do in WoW or Aion than CoD. WoW and Aion also deliver huge content patches to their games. What would CoD do? Add maps?? Ridiculous.
I personally am beginning to think that SC2 and D3 are so far off because Activision is trying to force a subscription for battle.net. Ridiculous to pay a subscription for a peer to peer game.
@Thundercracker
How often should the updates come out and what would be a fair price per month? I just can't fathom an FPS being worth any monthly subscription. Not picking on you btw. You are the only person answering back really lol.
@ smartguy. unfortunately as developers grow they become more concerned with money and less about games. I think the whole WoW thing and Blizzard acquisition has changed activation quite a bit. exploiting customers for easy bucks has become the name of the game (i.e. guitar hero)
while I would never pay for something like WoW I will agree that no shooter has the entertainment and content that an RPG offers
Activation= Activision. damn spell check
@Smartguy – Thanks for the paste. I had actually heard of them talking about stuff like that before, but unless there is a constant stream of new content at no additional charge like most MMOs, I don't see it happening.
Ted Ginn was a bad pick. Good return man, especially now that he has put that big play fear into teams kicking to him, but he is just unreliable as a receiver. Since there isn't much that can be done about it this season though, I still think we should slop his hands up with stick'em.
I think the Bobby Kotick conspiracy theorists thinks that they might be trying to milk something out of Battle.net, but I don't see that happening. While they might own Blizzard, I give Blizz and the job they have done with the games they have put out the benefit of the doubt. They are a slow game developer, their games are ready when they are ready and not before. From my understanding, Activision has very little say in anything really Blizzard related, though I wouldnt be surprised if they tried to carry over business models.
Charging for Battle.Net would be the biggest mistake Blizzard or anyone could make, seeing as they have cut the LAN support for Starcraft 2 as it is. If you are going to force people to buy your game and use your service, there can't be any charge for connecting for it. On top of that, when you bring in the competitive ladders and pro-starcraft in Korea and abroad, a situation like that would do more to alienate people then to make them money.
@Larcenous – I don't think a company like Activision will affect the game per se but they have all the power when it comes to pricing, DLC, and so on.
Take Dragon Age. I played the internet flash game Bioware had created but it was easy to see the EA influence. I had to take all these polls to ask me if I'd be willing to pay real dollars for things like in game items, flash games online, games on my phone. all sorts of junk. I know Bioware is going to continue creating awesome games but EA is most interested in making lots and lots of money
@thundercracker
Maps and more co-op is something I'm sure they will add. I am not paying a monthly fee for that though.
@everyone
What do people want from them that would be worth a monthly fee?
@Shaockwave – EA and Activision are interested in making the most money for sure, but as far as the finished product goes, it's still a Bioware/Blizzard game.
With the deal the Blizzard made in the merger as well, they got to both keep their own corporate structure as well as autonomy concerning their games and functions. I don't think Activision has as much say in it as they would like.